With one month past and a new year ahead, Dauphinais is busy getting his feet on the ground and learning about the community he and his wife, Debra, now call home.

For starters, Dauphinais is following up on a promise made while interviewed for his new post in the fall by board members Kelly Cooper, Franco Venuti and Chris Story.

"I said within the first 90 days I would meet 90 (chamber) members. I've met 43 so far," said Dauphinais, adding that he'll continue that process with the goal of meeting all of the chamber's 600 members during his first year on the job.

"That puts a face with the chamber, which is nice for (members) to know when they call," said Dauphinais. "It's important to sit down, visit and hear opinions."

What he is finding is a community that is "very good about telling me things that have been tried here and didn't work, but they're not averse to revisiting them. These are people that are open to other ways of doing things. They're not afraid to learn."

Originally from a Massachusetts mill town, Dauphinais graduated from Bridgewater State College with an undergraduate degree in English. After teaching in the public school system, he enrolled in the U.S. Navy's Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an engineer officer aboard a minesweeper in 1978, and then on an aircraft carrier. During his 10-year naval career, Dauphinais also earned a master's degree in information systems management and served as chief engineer aboard a guided missile destroyer, followed by another 11 years as a reservist before retiring in 1999.

Returning to school, he received a doctoral degree in American and Canadian history at the University of Maine, Orono, and transitioned into a career in higher education, serving in a variety of roles and institutions, including the Matanuska-Susitna College in 2002. From there, he became president of Garrett College in McHenry, Md., before being invited to become the Homer Chamber of Commerce's executive director upon Tina Day's resignation.

In addition to introducing himself to chamber members, Dauphinais has spent his first month becoming familiar with the chamber's budget software system and learning a set of funding sources different from those with which he was familiar as a college president.

There also are board members with whom to become acquainted,including three new members, the chamber's strategic plan to learn, a staff to work with and a community to meet.

All that gives Dauphinais a unique perspective as a newcomer.

"The level of education of this community is unbelievable," said Dauphinais. "Most people have one degree and there are more with advanced degrees than I've found in college towns. Some have a master's (degree) or two. That means there is lots to be taken advantage of here. It sets Homer apart from other small communities."

Referring to a "hollowing out" happening in rural America, with residents forced to relocate to urban areas in search of employment and opportunities, Dauphinais views Homer as "the exact opposite."

"Homer offers so many opportunities," said Dauphinais. "One real opportunity is leveraging the human capital available with the diversity that's here."

Pooling those resources to create a synergy of mutual support and economic development will play a major role in Homer's future, he said.

From what he has seen and from those he has met, Dauphinais is impressed with an attitude that if something "works for one, it works for Homer as a whole."

A board meeting Jan. 21 will give Dauphinais an opportunity to spend time with board members new and old and review the chamber's strategic plan.

"This is an active board. They do their homework and know what they're talking about," said Dauphinais. "That's a terrific kind of people and the community should be proud."

Chamber staff also received Dauphinais' compliments.

"They're forthcoming and great about answering questions. If they don't know the answer, they find out," he said. "It's a pleasure to be here."

As he set the 90-day goal for himself, Dauphinais has targeted goals for 2010, in addition to meeting all chamber members:

* Becoming an integral part of the community in a meaningful way.

* Learning what the area offers. As an example, Dauphinais described a recent Homer shopping trip during which he and his wife found items on their shopping list the couple previously drove an hour from their home to locate.

"People interested in Homer need to know that," he said of articulating to others what is available in the area.

* Working cooperatively with the city of Homer. Dauphinais has attended city council meetings and met with City Manager Walt Wrede, discussing what projects are in the city's future and "finding ways for the chamber to work with the city in those projects."

* Broadcasting Homer's message to a wider audience. "Homer is the best kept secret in Alaska," Dauphinais said. "It's a lot more than fishing and there should be a way to publicize that. Visitors come to Homer to go fishing, but there's nature hikes, art galleries, the shorebird festival."

* And on a personal note, there's completing the purchase of a new home. "I'm tired of our car being a rolling closet," Dauphinais said, laughing.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.